Best shopping malls in North America

Vicki Salemi is passionate about writing. As a regular contributor to AOL, MSN and numerous sites and publications she also blogs regularly for CNBC European Business, Women for Hire and Manhattan adventures on her website www.vickisalem...

Shop 'til you drop

Retail therapy. Shopping. Eye candy bliss. As you travel the country near and far for business or pleasure, you'll most like engage in a certain American pastime: Shopping at the mall.

Here's a look at the best of the best in North America when you simply must shop 'til you drop! These malls make the shopping experience pleasant with their vast selection of stores,
restaurants, food courts and overall appeal.

Galleria Mall, Dallas, Texas

It's a mall! It's an ice skating rink! It's an extravaganza! A visit to the Galleria Dallas will not disappoint. With flagship stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's and
Nordstrom, the mall is connected to the Westin. It has three levels, an ice skating rink, a bevvy of shops to meet your needs for shoes (and everything else) -- and yes, it gets bonus points for
having an American Girl Boutique and Bistro.

The Woodfield Chicago Mall, Schaumberg, ILlinois

Forget the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Building or dare we say, Oprah -- Chicago's other hidden gem is known as the Woodfield Chicago Mall. Nestled in the 'burbs, this shopping mecca is the largest
mall in the country with more than 300 stores that include JCPenney, Lord and Taylor, Nordstrom and Sears.

Garden State Plaza Mall, Paramus, New jersey

Described by the New York Times as the single most influential retail destination in the US, GSP (or simply known to locals in northern New Jersey as "the Plaza") does not
disappoint. It's anchored by Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom, Macy's and JCPenney, and its 300+ stores include Juicy Couture, Ed Hardy, Louis Vuitton and Michael Kors.

Prudential Center/Copley Place, Boston, MAssachusetts

This shopping destination smack dab in the middle of Beantown is something to be admired. It boasts a food court and stores you'd find in any other mall in America, but here's what
makes it unique: It's Boston, baby! Considering that malls are typically synonymous with the suburbs, this shopping center is the anti-mall. Attached as well to Copley Place and the Westin,
its levels add splendor to the shopping experience with Tiffany & Co., Neiman Marcus and Coach.

Place Montreal Trust, Montreal, Canada

Oh, Canada! We love their poutine, culture and of course, shopping. In Montreal, several malls connect to each other underground, making shopping convenient and quite warm during an otherwise
frigid winter. Place Montreal Trust is one such mall with its warm, inviting stores and ability to connect to its more affordable counterparts: More Montreal malls.

Toronto Eaton Centre, Toronto, Canada

Consider this mall a Galleria to the north. Although Eaton, a landmark department store, no longer exists, we're happy this mall still does. Whether you eat donuts at Tim Hortons or browse in
down-home American stores like Bebe and Talbots, a visit to Toronto is not complete without perusing the fine establishments in the Eaton Centre.